Dumping-wagon.



A. CAMERON.

DUMPING WAGON. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1901.

Patented'June 29, 1909.

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A. CAMERON.

UMPING- WAGON.

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Patented June 29, 1909.

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ARTHUR CAMERON, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

DUMPING-WAGON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1907.

PatentedJune 29, 1909.

Serial No. 381,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR. CAMERON, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dumping-Wagons, of which the following is a specification.

Objects of my invention are, to tightly close the doors to close one door in advance of the other; to provide means for permitting the chain portion which closes one door first to continue its action in a way to take up slack in the other chain portion; to automatically vary the relative length of the chain portions when the doors are opened, and to provide certain improved and ell'lcient means for controlling certain door closing devices.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a dumping wagon understood to embody the principles of my invention, a part of the upper portion of the front end of the load receptacle being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 1 on a plane indicated by dotted lines a e. In both Figs. 1 and 2 the running gear of the wagon is omitted for convenience of illustration, although it is understood to be )resent. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating a vi ratory adjusting compensator hereinafter more particularly referred to, the spring being retracted. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the spring expanded by reason of the pull of the chain or cable in a direction to cause such expansion in direction against the retractive power of the spring. Fig. 5 shows the box or load receptacle in end elevation, the two doors being in open position. Fig. 6 is a similar View showing however one door in a closed position, and the other door a little short of a closed position. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing both doors closed.

A indicates the wagon body which is constructed with an ordinary or suitable box or load rece )tacle for receiving and carrying the load, the ottom of this box or load receiving receptacle being provided by swinging gates or bottom doors B, B, having their outer longitudinal edge portions hinge-connected with the box or body, as at O, O, in any desirable or suitable way. These bottom doors can be swung inwardly and upwardly into position to close the box at its bottom, and in alternation therewith swung downwardly and outwardly by gravity, it being understood that when the wagon is loaded and the bottom doors are released and permitted to thus open, the weight of the load will force the doors to swing downwardly and outwardly with considerable rapidity. The doors are caused to close by the operation of cable means such as the chain portions I), D, and windii'ig means for winding up the chain portions, the winding means being released when it is desired to permit the chain portions to pay out for the purpose of allowing the bottom doors to open.

As illustrated in the drawings, the reversibly rotative winding drum or shaft E for the chain portions is supported upon and arranged between the side portions 2, 2, which are practically forward extensions of the main side portions of the load receptacle 1. This drum or shaft operates for winding up and for paying outas the case may bethe forward parts of the two cable or chain portions 1), l), which are shown as being the two portions of a single chain or cable. These chain or cable portions extend rmtrwardly from shaft E to and over an idler roll G, mounted upon a transversely arranged rod or axle H. The rod or axle IiI thus provided with an idler roll G is supported by sides 2, 2, and arranged forward of the front end 8 of the load receptacle, and from such idler roll G, the chain portions extend dmvnwardly to the bottom doors, thence back along the bottom doors until they clear the rear ends of the latter, and thence upwardly to and over an oscillatory member or bearing F, which as in the first seven figures of the drawings, is pivotally held upon the rear end portion 4: of the box or load receptacle, although, of course it may be pivoted upon any suitable rear part of the body (which broadly considered may be said to involve the box), or upon any suitable bearing thereon.

As a simple arrangement, the cable is shown as consisting of a single chain trained upon the rear oscillatory sheave like bearing F, and thence downwardly to and under the bottom doors, in which case the two portions D, D, of the chain respectively extend longitudinally under and engage with one and the other of the two bottom doors, and these chain portions respectively connect with one and the other of said bottom doors by any suitable relatively sliding or shifting connec tions, whereby the chain portions may move longitudinally and independently of the doors. As illustrated, each bottom door is provided at each end with a ring or like guide through which the appropriate chain portion passes, and each door is provided be tween its two chain guides I, I, with a cleat K secured to the underside of the door to strengthen the latter, and having its bottom edge curved so as to taper toward the ends of the door, and with this arrangement each door has a cleat or guide piece K extending between its two hollow guide devices I, the chain portion between such guide piece I, I, being arranged to traverse the curved bottom edge of the cleat K. The oscillatory bearing F is provided with a peripheral stud or catch L, which engages with one of the links of the chain passing over the curved bearing face of the member F, and said bearing member F is also provided with a peripheral projection or catch 6 engaged by a spring M, one end of the spring M being attached to the catch or hook 6, and the opposite end of the spring being attached to the rear end of the body or load receptacle, as at 7. With this arrangement the chain passes over the sheave shaped bearing F, and is practically divided by the %in or stop catch L into two portions D and and as illustrated the chain portion D extends downwardly and thence extends forwardly and then upwardly to the winding drum E, and. between the sheave shaped bearing F and said winding shaft or drum, it has a sliding or shifting connection with one of the bottom doors, such for example, as by means of a pair of eyes I respectively on opposite ends of the door referred to. In like manner the chain portion D extends downwardly and thence forwardly and thence upwardly so as to connect with the winding drum or shaft at the forward part of the wagon, and on its way from the sheave shaped bearing to the winding drum, it also hasa sliding connection with the remaining bottom door by means of eyes or ring shaped guides I respectively at opposite ends of such door. When therefore the winding drum or shaft is operated to permit the chain portions to pay out, the doors will be permitted to swing open by reason of the slackening of the chain portions and the sliding connections between the doors and the chain portions referred to.

As best illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the pin L which establishes the point of connection between the chain as a whole and the oscillatory hearing or sheave F, is normally maintained by spring M at one side of a vertical plane extending longitudinally and centrally through the wagon and passing through the axis of the bearing pin or axle 8 of the oscillatory sheave shaped bearing F. As shown, this point of connection between the chain and the sheave shaped bearing is at the left of said plane, and with this arrangement it is understood that the chain has been applied to or adjusted in its connection with the pin L, so that when the pin is at the left of the vertical plane through-axis 8, the chain ortion D extending back from the winding shaft E to the point where it is attached to the member F, will be somewhat longer than the corresponding chain portion D. When therefore the winding shaft is operated in direction to wind up the chain portions thereon, the action of the chain portions in lifting the doors toward a closed position will be synchronous, and the shorter chain por tion D will first close the door B as in Fig. 6, but as the winding action continues to wind up the chain portion D, and after the said door B has been closed, as in Fig. 6, this action on the part of the chain portion D will necessarily turn the sheave shaped bearing F in direction against the resistance of the spring M, and as the sheave or hearing F is thus turned against the resistance of spring M, the rear end part of chain D will be drawn up over the member F and caused to follow the chain portion D. In this Way the slack or surplus length of chain portion D at one side of pin L will be taken up, and the relative lengths of the two chain portions will be so relatively equalized that further action on the part of the winding shaft E will cause the chain portion D to close the door B, as in Fig. '7. When the winding drum is released so as to allow the chain portions to pay out tne doors will open and the spring will again place the sheave or hearing F and the chain portions in the first positions, as in Fig. 5.

As a matter of further improvement the longitudinal free edge portions of the doors are adapted to lap one another as illustrated, and in such case the door edge which overlaps the other door edge will close first, as in Fig. 6, and by this arrangement, leakage of sand between the doors will be prevented in case the doors should spread somewl'iat apart by reason of continued use.

With the arrangement thus far described, a single chain is pinned to the oscillatory bearing F at a suitable point by the pin L, and obviously any abnormal stretch on the part of either chain portion can be corrected by adjusting the connection between the chain and the pin. Broadly considered, however, the chain portions D and D may be relatively independent, and the oscillatory bearing F can be provided with two pins or projections respectively for one and the other of the two chain portions, and in such case the chain portions can be adjusted in their connections with the oscillatory bearing to any desired extent.

The relative shortening of chain portion D can be easily attained in either case by simply taking up one or two links when both chains are slack. For example, where one chain is used, the chain can be thus adjusted in its point of connection with the movable bearing member, and this will relatively slacken up chain portion D when the movable bearing member or take up device is in normal position as in Fig. 5, and after the two chain portions have been wound up to an extent substantially as in Fig. 6, further winding up of the chain portions will cause chain portion D to continue its movement independently of the closed door B and thereby to move the spring take up member away from its normal position. This action causes the slack or excess in length of chain portion D to be taken up so as to erinit it to close door B as in big. 7. W ere the chain is in one length, the pull of chain portion D is on stud L or on the chain portion D or both as soon as door B is closed, but where the chain portions D, D, are separate lengths attached to the spring take up member at one or separate points, the chain portion D will exert a ull on the chain portion D through the medium of the take up member which is also in effect a spring equalizing device or evener. This bearing or equalizing member therefor forms a movable bearing to which the chain portions are so attached that when such bearing is maintained in normal position by the spring, one chain portion is of a length to close one door before the other chain portion can clos the other door, and therefore the chain portion which first closes one door is practically the shorter of the two chain portions. Although both chains wind to some extent after the first door has been closed, the member F is operated by the shorter chain in a direction to take up slack in the longer chain proportionally to the extent to which the shorter chain portion is drawn forward by the winding drum or shaft.

An important feature of the spring controlled sheave or bearing is that when the doors open, it automatically restores the chain portions to the relative condition in which one chain portion has a degree of slack in excess of that of the other chain portion, in other words, as the chains unwind and the doors open, it takes up a part of one chain portion and pays out a part of the other chain portion to an extent proportional to its movement due to the retractile energy of the spring. The spring also permits one door to be closed against the other door with a suitable degree of spring pressure, whereby the doors will be held tightly closed regardless of any severe strain to which they may be subjected during use. Furthermore the spring holds the bearing in its normal position with one chain portion longer than the other and insures such relationship until one door is closed. The doors can be constructed in any suitable way, as for example, they can have their inner edges provided with flange portions for relative lap when the doors are closed.

Whether the cable extends back to form a long loop passing over and attached to the rear reciprocative hearing, or whether such cable is divided at its rear portion to form two ends which are attached to such reciprocative bearing member, the winding shaft E is desirably forward of an idler roll or spool G, which latter is flanged at its ends so as to prevent the chain portions from slipping off when the doors open, and it is arranged sufficiently close to the front end 3 of the box to permit the cable portions to extend directly downward to the guide eyes on the forward ends of the doors.

The winding drum or shaft E is provided with a ratchet 9 and is operated by a lever 10 having a pawl 11 which engages the ratchet, the direction of rotation in winding being indicated by an arrow on the ratchet. The lever 10 is within easy reach of a driver or attendant on the wagon, and a shorter lever 12 is also likewise accessible. The lever 12 is connected by a link or connecting rod 13 with a short vibrating arm 14 ar ranged in rear of the winding drum and pivoted at its lower end upon a bracket bearing 15 which is secured to the forward end of the box. Rigid with this arm is a dog 16 which projects forward to engage arm 17 of a spring pawl 18 employed for preventing back movement of the pawl 9 while the winding action is taking place, and for releasing the pawl when the pawl 11 has also been released therefrom. The pawl arm 17 is rigid with the pawl 18, and the arm is normally drawn back by a spring 19 which serves to maintain the pawl 18 in engagement with the ratchet. In order however to free pawl 18 from the ratchet, the attendant swings arm 12 forward whereby the pull of connecting rod on arm 14 will swing the latter forward and cause its dog or arm portion 16 to press against pawl arm 17 and thereby swing such arm against the resistance of spring 19, and thereby free pawl 18 from the ratchet. Upon thus freeing pawl 11 from the ratchet, the drum or shaft will be free to revolve and allow the cable portions to pay out and thereby permit the doors to swing laterally open.

The chain or cable D is shown in the form of an ordinary chain, such as is usually employed in dumping wagons. As best shown in Fig. 1, a cable or chain is looped so as to form a long loop whereof the side portions have relative shifting connections respectively with one and the other of the doors. iVith this arrangement of loop the chain can be integral between its ends, and the end of the loop can be simply trained u on the roller bearing or sheave F, and o viously any desired link of such end portion of the loop can be caught upon the stud L on the roller bearing. Obviously however the roller bearing could have two relatively spaced pins or catch devices L, and by omitting one or more links of the end loop portion of the chain, the two links left at opposite sides of the short gap thus formed, could be respectively caught on one and the other of the two catch pins, and also as: hereinbeiore described, the chain portion D could be shortened up by attaching some other one of its links to the catch pin. But whether the entire length of chain is integral or slightly separated at the rear hearing, it is obvious that in each case there are two chain or cable portions extending back from the winding shaft or drum, and having suitable connections with the doors, and these chain or cable portions are attached to a rear spring bearing. It is also understood that the sleeve, spool or drum G, which is flanged at its ends as at (Z(Z, provides a bearing for the chain portions at the point where it is de siredthey should drop down toward the front end of the doors, and these flanges d-d will also prevent the forward parts of the chains or cables from spreading laterally apart to an undesirable extent.

The roll orsheave F which is pivotally supported upon the body, and which is capable of oscillatory or rotary reciprocative action, provides a bearing for parts of the chain portions D, D, the extent to which such chain or cable portions bear upon the periphery of the roll or sheave being dependent upon the posi- -tion of the point or points to which such chain or cable portions are attached to the flanged roll or sheave. Thus in Fig. 3 where the sheave has been turned to the left by the spring M, the part of cable portion D which bears on the sheave is greater in length than the part of cable portion D which bears on the sheave. The sheave also permits the chain or cable portions to pass directly downward from the sheave to the marginal door portions when the doors are closed or nearly so, as in Figs. 6 and 7.

Vlhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a dumping wagon, a load carrying receptacle having swinging bottom doors; a door closing cable connected with the doors; means for alternately wind-ing and paying out the door closing cable; a roller bearing to which the cable is attached, and s ring means, opposing movement of the roller earing in one direction with a yielding resistance.

2. In a dumping wagon, a load carrying portion when the two chain or cable portions between the roller bearing are wound up for closing the doors.

3. In a dumping wagon, a load carrying receptacle having swinging bottom doors; a forwardly arranged cable winding device a rearwardly arranged oscillatory member door closing cable means comprising cable portions attached to the winding device and extending back to and connected with the oscillatory bearing, and also having relatively shifting connections with the bottom doors; means for adjustably connecting the cable portions with the oscillatory bearing device, whereby when the doors are open one cable portion will be longer than the other cable portion, and a spring device arranged upon the wagon box or body and connected with an arm on the oscillatory bearing, said spring being adapted to normally maintain the relative lengths of the cable portions when the doors are open, and to yield when the cable portions are wound up by the winding device, so as to permit the door which is operated by the shorter cable portion to close first.

4; In a dumping wagon, a load carrying receptacle having bottom doors provided with marginal portions which lap when the doors are closed; a sheave pivotally supported at the rear end of the load carrying receptacle; a winding device forward of the load carrying receptacle; chain or cable portions. connected with the winding device and extending back to and positively connected with the sheave, and having relatively shifting connections with the bottom doors, and a spring for normally turning the sheave in direction for slackening one chain and proportionalli'y taking upv the other chain portion, said spring being adapted to yield and permit the sheave to turn in an opposite dimotion for paying out the shorter chain portion and taking up.- slack in the longer chain portion when the door connected with the short chain portion is closed and the winding up of the two chain portions continues.

5-. In a dumping wagon, a load carrying receptacle having swinging bottom doors chain or cable portions for operating the to cause the rotary bearing to normally Wind doors; a forwardly arranged chain or cable thereon one chain or cable portion to a 10 Winding device for Winding up and in alternagreater extent than the other chain or cable tion therewith for paying out the chain or portion.

" cable portions; an oscillatory bearing sup- ARTHUR CAMERON.

ported upon the rear end of the body, the \Vitnesses: chain or cable portions being also attached to EMIL J. MUELLER, such oscillatory bearing and a spring applied 1 THOS. E. GREENLEES. 

